Bascharage Hedgehogs overran Nitia Bettembourg 92-55 in Bascharage after a balanced opening stretch. The hosts edged the first quarter 23-20, then flipped the game with a 15-4 close to the half from 25-24 to 40-28. The third quarter broke it open (28-11), and the gap peaked at +41 (85-44) early in the fourth. An unsportsmanlike foul on Daniel Prior in the last period summed up a difficult night for Nitia.
Bascharage's efficiency and pressure defense told. The Hedgehogs hit 15/16 free throws (94%, excellent) and 31/58 on two-pointers (53%, good), while forcing 28 turnovers and collecting 19 steals. Nitia struggled to convert (2P 40%, 3P 21%, FT 56%) despite winning the rebounding battle.
Jeffrey Leroy Early Jr (37, 1.90m, USA) powered Bascharage with 35 points, zero turnovers and relentless finishing. Aziz Ndiaye (28, 2.03m, SEN) delivered an MVP outing: 27 points, 13 rebounds, 9 steals, 3 assists and 7/7 at the line, dominating both paint and passing lanes. Veljko Dragasevic (28, 1.94m, HUN) added 18 points and steered the offense with 9 assists. Local pieces chipped in Teodor Lukic (17, 1.86m) and Deni Sabotic (17, 1.85m, MNE) provided late baskets, while captain Nino Luciani set the tone from the start. Coach Goran Lukic's group has now strung back-to-back wins after two early losses.
For Nitia, Louis-Stephane Lobe Lobas (30, 1.86m) battled for 14 points, J'r me Bous (31, 1.88m) hit from deep for 9, and Mathieu Ercolani (20) added 9. El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (18) had 8 but picked up three fouls in a row early in the third quarter, disrupting the rotation. Coach Bradley Gene Melton's team is still seeking a first win, now on a four-game slide.
(AI generated)